Thursday, December 03, 2009

SCIENCE FUN

We are using Apologia's Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day. Along with this we use the Learn N Folders from Live and Learn Press that correlate with our science. We really like these. This combines lapbooking with notebooking and provides an easy way for us to review our science.

Today was the first time we've pulled out the scissors and papers to work on our Learn N Folders. Here's another example of using one text for three grade levels.


Question from our Learn N Folder: What are neuromasts? How do lateral lines and neuromasts confirm creation?

Zander - 7 yo/Super 1st grade - "Only God could make this up!"

Nolan - 10 yo/4th grade - "Lateral lines go from the gills to the tail. It has a group of millions of little hairs called neromasts. The neuromasts sense movement and change the movement in the water to electrical signals for the fishes brain. Scientists can't make one. Someone smarter, bigger and in charge had to create lateral lines and neuromasts." Zander piped in with, "THAT WOULD BE GOD!"

Arielle's is much the same as Nolan's...a bit less wordy as SHE wasn't dictating. ::snort::

Question from our Learn N Folder: What is the usual way a fish produces - how is a sea horse different?

Zander - Super 1st - "Wives lay eggs that float or sink in the water. Husbands find the eggs and put sperm on them. That leaves babies in them. " Seahorses - "The mother puts them in the daddy's pouch (more like pants). The daddy takes care of them until they hatch. They explode out of his pouch, like daddy is giving birth himself. Strange."

Nolan - 4th grade - "Females lay eggs which fall or float. The male finds eggs and fertilizes with sperm. Baby fish form inside the eggs." Seahorses - Female puts eggs on male and leaves. Male takes care of eggs. They hatch and shoot out of his pouch. It's wierd."

Arielle - 7th grade - "Female fish lay eggs that either float or sink to the bottom. Then the male finds the eggs and fertilizes the eggs and the fish develope inside the eggs." Seahorses - "The female lays the eggs in a special pouch on the father and then leaves. The father takes care of the kids until they are ready, then the come out of his pouch."

Note the progression of thought and vocabulary. I found it intersting that the kids translated the whole process to kids, mommies and daddies. One text, interesting to all levels (Stacia - 4 yo - listens too) with each student interacting with the material at their level. It really IS possible to be "fair" with all multiple age levels using the same material...easier on mom and cheaper too.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

3 comments:

Yvonne said...

We love Live and Learn Press! One of my high schoolers has an learning challenge and the Live and Learn Press books for Apologia Physical Science is helping him segment and organize the information in a way that is making learning possible. We do not ordinarily like Apologia upper sciences, if you remember, because of it's overwhelming nature. But these folders have made the program more than do-able...if not enjoyable.

Renee said...

On Veteran's Day we went to the Chattanooga Aquarium. They have an excellent seahorse exhibit. We waited to see if one of the 'pregnant' males would give birth but finally we had to move on and see the rest of the aquarium. We'll be checking again next time we're there

Anonymous said...

Sis:

love the way Alexander puts things. He got the important thing... Only God... Also interesting the way Arrielle was a bit discrete when it came to writing sperm. She seems as shy as I was as a kid and/or girls are just more discrete. :):) love/prayers --- Mom T.